The first Dundee derby of the season will take place on Sunday at Tannadice Park with the local rivals looking to earn early bragging rights over each other.

Dundee United currently sit four points ahead in the Scottish Premiership and they were also able to win the last two times that they played, which happened to be in the Scottish Championship, while Dundee are searching for their maiden win of the season.

Match preview

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A lot has changed since the last time these two teams played, with Dundee following their rivals to the top flight of Scottish football just one year after Dundee United were able to achieve promotion.

The Tangerines would like them to continue playing catch up, and so far that is how things are shaping up in the league table as they sit two places above them with a four point advantage.

They have actually lost the same number of games as each other so far in the Scottish Premiership (two), but Dundee United have been more clinical, registering a couple of victories and a draw as well.

Tam Courts's men were held to a goalless draw in their most recent outing, away at St Mirren, but they will be back at their own ground this weekend, which is where they defeated Rangers earlier this season.

Dundee United have gone two games in a row without a victory heading into this fixture, but their recent history against the Dark Blues is good, as they won 6-2 the last time the two teams met at Tannadice Park.

That is a result that James McPake will not want to see replicated as his team still searches for their first win since returning to the Scottish Premiership.

Three points in the Dundee derby would certainly prove to be a popular way of making that happen, but they will need to sharpen up defensively, having conceded 11 goals already.

While no team has let in more than the Dark Blues, none have scored fewer than Dundee United, who have only found the back of the net twice this season in the league.

McPake's men have not been able to find any consistency yet in their results, but they have earned three points via a trio of draws, one of which came in their most recent outing during a goalless game against Livingston.

Team News

Callum Butcher was a welcome sight for the Tangerines in the middle of the park against St Mirren, starting his first game back following his injury, while Mark Connolly was also able to appear from the bench.

Ilmari Niskanen made his debut for Dundee United in the goalless draw, and he will be looking to provide a major impact on derby day to truly kickstart his time with the club.

Ryan Edwards was forced to withdraw in the previous game due to injury, but he has been seen training this week which could provide a major boost to their defensive options.

However, both Liam Smith and Benjamin Siergrist are battling their own fitness concerns in order to be available for Courts, with each of them currently being a doubt.

Leigh Griffiths was able to make his debut for the Dark Blues in the Scottish Premiership against Livingston, and he will be aiming to get off the mark with his new club on Sunday.

McPake will also be hoping that experienced midfielder Charlie Adam will be available to him after missing the previous game with a groin problem, but he was boosted by the returns of Jordan Marshall and Alex Jakubiak last weekend.

Dundee United possible starting lineup:
Carson; Smith, Edwards, Mulgrew, McMann; Butcher, Harkes, Fuchs; Pawlett, Niskanen; McNulty

Dundee possible starting lineup:
Legzdins; Kerr, Marshall, Ashcroft, Sweeney; McGhee, Byrne, Anderson; McCowan, Jakubiak, Griffiths

We say: Dundee United 1-1 Dundee

This game brings a team that struggles for goals against one searching for their first victory of the season, in what should be an exciting encounter due to the derby day element.

However, a draw could be the result in this one, with the Dark Blues looking to frustrate the hosts and stop their chances, while Griffiths can cause problems offensively himself.

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